Councillor William John Montgomery serves on North Down Borough Council representing Abbey Area.
Praise n' Beer
Statement in respect of off licence beside Trinity Presbyterian Church Bangor. The Co-op is to make an appearance on Main Street Bangor with a convenience store including an off license. Most people would welcome such a proposal with open arms especially given the only growth in Bangor Town Centre is pound shops and money shops. With the proliferation of Banks, Building Societies and Charity Shops the co-op presence could be seen as a godsend especially given its ethical policies. So what's the problem? Bideford Town Council in Devon provides the answer in that the bid to outlaw prayers before local council meetings was successful. This ruling was described as bizarre by Simon Calvert of the Christian Institute and having taken sides with those whose goal is to undermine our Christian heritage. Bishop of Exeter Rt Rev Michael Languish in condemning the ruling stated that every time a survey of religious is held 70% profess a faith and to saying private prayers. So what's that got to do with Bangor? The co-op with its ethical policies is to locate this business containing an off licence immediately beside Trinity Presbyterian Church on the Main Street. A sort of praise n' beer arrangement. Can you imagine the scene where the faithful arrive for or leave service mingling with the case of beer lads leaving co-op. This like the happenings in Bideford is an attack on Christian sensitivities and is especially hurtful given the stated ethical policies of co-op, clearly Christians are not worthy of ethical consideration. Trinity minister Reverend Richard Montgomery stated "I'm disappointed about their lack of compromise" following modest and only request made to co-op (in respect of off-license) that they would operate the off license during shorter hours on Sundays to avoid worship times. Neither Law nor Council were able to assist Christians on this issue which leaves only Christians and other right thinking people to stand up for what they believe.
NIE Visit
Very informative visit to NIE Control Centre in Craigavon. We had presentation on fault call handling and tracing including real life processes as a fault occurred in Dunmurray during our visit. Good news for Groomsport as the overhead HV cables will be placed underground within the next two years. NIE hope to shortly restart an apprentice programme which will be very good news for our young people.
Bangor Central statement disappoints
Education Minister statement on Bangor Central School disappointing. Nothing new beyond that which is already known. The school needs the certainty of a commitment to rebuild at the current site.
Act of God
Council press release in respect of the delay to New Leisure Centre due to damage in transit of the Glulam beams as an act of God. Perhaps the Captain of the stricken cruise liner could describe the sailing of his vessel into rocks as an Act of god. Is it also an Act of God when the Captain of the vessel carrying our beams sails into a storm despite, I am sure, being in possession of the latest weather forecast.
Delays
The New Leisure Centre will be delayed until early 2013 due to damage in transit to the timber Glulam beams. This is particularly disappointing due to the failing nature of the current leisure centre. Council does seem to be particularly unlucky in respect of its contracts, or is there another reason?
First | Previous | Next | Last